Details of Senate Bill 14

Senate Bill 14, which garnered bipartisan support with supermajorities in both the House and Senate, allocates $22.8 million for the establishment and operation of this new office over the next five years.

“Texas can have our own DOGE,” remarked Abbott during the signing ceremony. He emphasized the initiative’s potential to reduce government costs and improve operations.

Key Supporters and Legislative Context

Abbott was joined by several pivotal figures, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and bill sponsors Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and Sen. Phil King.

Burrows voiced optimism about the bill, suggesting that fewer and more clearly defined regulations would bolster Texas businesses and the economy. This passage marks one of the earliest bill signings in recent sessions, which have often faced delays due to inter-office disputes among legislative leaders.

Responsibilities of the New Office

The Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office will be tasked with a range of responsibilities, including:

• Identifying unnecessary and ineffective regulations across various state agencies.
• Advising agencies on improving regulatory effectiveness.
• Streamlining regulatory processes to cut departmental costs.
• Enhancing public access to regulatory information.

The governor will appoint the office’s members, supported by up to 18 full-time staff. Interestingly, the law stipulates that Texas courts will not have to defer to an agency’s interpretations of regulations during legal challenges, reflecting a shift following the recent Supreme Court decision that altered the longstanding Chevron doctrine.

Political Reactions and Opposition

This new law is part of a broader Republican strategy to attract businesses to Texas, which has already included the establishment of a specialized business court. However, some Democrats have raised questions regarding the necessity of this new agency, arguing that the existing Sunset Advisory Commission already performs similar functions in assessing state agency regulations.

Among the Republicans opposing the measure, Rep. Brian Harrison criticized it as an unnecessary expansion of government, asserting that the intent behind DOGE was to minimize bureaucracy, contrary to what he believes this law will accomplish.

Inspiration from Other States

Texas is not alone in pursuing regulatory efficiency. Other states, including Kentucky, Iowa, and Oklahoma, have established similar bodies inspired by the DOGE initiative. The Texas House also created a committee aimed at eliminating waste and inefficiency in government operations during this legislative session.

As Rep. Capriglione stated during the committee’s first session, the goal is to “at times use a scalpel” for targeted reforms, but also “wield a sledgehammer” to eliminate systemic inefficiency.